The tony encounter at myrna’s coffee shop
I really admire him giving me his time
For a good coffee at nine
Matched with choco-raisin cake
Bespectacled tony
Jesuit priest
White barong
Still slim
And walks
With counted
Composure
He looks at me
With a eye
For a mistake
Keen eyes
Frisking my soul
“You’re flourishing” he said.
I am fat
Tall and pumpkin cheeks
I can say
I have a basketball
Inside my
Pink polo shirt
As gift from an
OFW
I sip my coffee
Sliced my choco cake
With a fork
And take a
Big bite
I am flabby
After I left
The seminary
Where we were buddies
”you’re strong” I thought.
I could not be stopped
Asking him:
how did you manage to stay as Jesuit?
Did you have a lot of struggles?
You like the solitude, do you?
Do you have a strict routinary prayer?
How is you religious life?
How’s your sex life?
“It is a grace, a gift”, he blurted.
“We live in poverty
All our salaries go to the Jesuit society”.
He gave me the sad news
About sonny leaving the novitiate
Years ago
About Roy leaving the priesthood
A few months ago,
And Fr. Mac pulled out
From Arvisu and now
Chaplain of the PGH,
A sore.
“What could be the possible explanation
Why priests are leaving? ”
“Has the Jesuit society studied the trend
And found the explanations? ” I asked him.
“We are a few now”
“We will have a new campaign
For vocations” he answers.
“I will be leaving for a consultors’ meeting
Tomorrow for an early flight to manila
Then I will be in Davao for another
Important meeting.
Just his afternoon
I met with a benefactor who will give
65 dollars a month for our scholars”
still tony talking.
What I cannot forget, as he cancelled my
Room reservation at the Jesuit house
As I decided to stay in the hotel instead,
“You saw the light, and we are still blind”,
he said with a rush.
It was ironic, I know, and I will be thinking
About his answer, for nights and years.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
Upon leaving arvisu house
the last message of Tony was this:
you have finally seen the light
we who remain here are still
groping in darkness
it is hard to understand what Tony
really meant by that
years passed,15 years more
Tony became a Jesuit Priest
then we met in Zamboanga and
we talked we avoided this thing
about light, we have nothing to
say about it, he said 'You are fat'
i have nothing to say much
i hid the light inside my fists
Tony is correct in this world where
we live, it is a big circle and he
hints about something, it is light
there is no visible end and there
is no visible beginning we only
inhabit we fail always to explain
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
When I Think About Leaving
You know some times me and my lady have these crazy fights and when we do it makes me wonder
Are we\'re ever gonna get it right
When I think about leaving I think about me
What my life would be like if I were back to being free
Go where I wanna go, do what I wanna do, wouldn\'t have a soul I had to answer to
When I think about leaving I think about me
You know I got a friend him and his wife just couldn\'t see eye to eye he had all he could
Stand one day and just packed up and said good-bye
When I think about leaving I think about him
That little apartment cross town he\'s living in
Got an old corvette, got a new girlfriend, but only sees his kids every other weekend
When I think about leaving oh I think about him
I never will forget her face or the day she told me about her dad, how he walked out on her
And her mom when she was just a kid
When I think about leaving oh I think about her
Only five years old and her heart filled up with hurt
With her little arms wrapped around his neck saying daddy where you going, are you coming
Back
When I think about leaving I think about her
You know the truth is, most of the time things were really great and I know we got something
Special
When I think about leaving I think about us
How we build this love we share on faith and trust, honest way we talk, tender way we touch,
All those nights we spent making love,
When I think about leaving oh I think about us
When I think about leaving I think again
Even though that thought crosses my mind every now and then
In my heart I know I would never leave, there\'s nowhere else on earth I would rather be
When I think about leaving I think again
When I think about leaving
When I think about leaving
When I think about leaving:I think again
song performed by by Kenny Chesney
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
I never met a Jesuit before I applied for the order.
quote by Daniel Berrigan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Take Me Away
this time what I want is you
there is no one else
who can take your place
this time you burn me with your eyes
you see past all the lies
you take it all away
I've seen it all
it was never enough
it keeps leaving me needing you
take me away
take me away
I've got nothing left to say
just take me away
I try to make my way to you
but still I feel so lost
I don't know what else I can do
cause I've seen it all
it was never enough
it keeps leaving me needing you
take me away
take me away
I've got nothing left to say
just take me away
don't give up on me yet
don't forget who I am
I know I'm not there yet
but don't let
me stay here alone
I've seen it all and it's never enough
it keeps leaving me needing you
I've seen enough and it's never enough
it keeps leaving me needing you
take me away
take me away
I've got nothing left to say
just take me away
take me away
take me away
song performed by by Lifehouse from Stanley Climbfall
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
She's Leaving Home
Wednesday morning at five o'clock
As the day begins
Silently closing her bedroom door
Leaving the note that she hoped would say more
She goes downstairs to the kitchen
Clutching her handkerchief
Quietly turning the back door key
Stepping outside she is free
She (we gave her most of our lives)
Is leaving (sacrificed most of our lives)
Home (we gave her everything money could buy)
She's leaving home after living alone for
So many years (bye bye)
Father snores as his wife gets into her dressing gown
Picks up the letter that's lying there
Standing alone at the top of the stairs
She breaks down and cries to her husband
Daddy our baby's gone
Why would she treat us so thoughtlessly
How could she do this to me
She (We never thought of ourselves)
Is leaving (never a thought for ourselves)
Home (we struggled hard all our lives to get by)
She's leaving home after living alone for
So many years (bye bye)
Friday morning at nine o'clock she is far away
Waiting to keep the appointment she made
Meeting a man from the motor trade
She (what did we do that was wrong)
Is having (we didn't know it was wrong)
Fun (fun is the one thing that money can't buy)
Something inside that was always denied for
So many years (bye bye)
She's leaving home (bye bye)
song performed by by Kate Bush
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
I'm Sorry Mom
I’m sorry mom for the things I put you through
I’m sorry mom for not doing the things you wanted me to do
I’m sorry mom for leaving you so soon
I’m sorry mom for that call you got that afternoon
Leaving you was the last thought on mind
Just like so many I guess it was just my time
I thought about you the last minutes of my life
I thought about my son and I even thought about my wife
But momma I can imagine how this must be for you
Because I see you when you are alone
When nobody else do
I don’t want you to feel so much pain
There’s really no one to blame
Tell dad to stop grieving
I see his pain as well
I almost didn’t make it
Yall know the life I live
But I had a second chance
And the Lord heard my prayer
My life wasn’t taking instance
I had time to repent
I ask the lord to wash my sins
And show me a better way
He opens up new doors for me
And here is where I stay
So tell everyone who doubted me
I made it anyway
I’m sorry mom for leaving you, without saying goodbye
I’m sorry mom for hurting you, I still see you cry
I’m sorry mom, but be happy for I got my wings its true
Something no one thought Mousey will ever do,
So the next time I see you crying it’s my wing that will be holding you
I’m so sorry mom, and I will always, always love you.
poem by Zonda Davis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Stay In Shadow
So cold that you cannot cope
With a frozen heart
I guess we blow apart
I guessed it from the start Stay in shadow
Ill run this world out
Stay in shadow
Its running out of time
Stay in shadow
I want to watch it drown
Stay in this now
Dont say because you cant
Say what we should have been
Dont show what I resent
Dont know cause I forget
So cruel to be so blind
Darkness was on my side
Now that youve come and gone
I know where I belong
Light is leaving as I watch you go
Light is leaving inside of my soul
song performed by by Finger Eleven
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Metaphysical Discussion
inside the class in philosophy
the professor stans, an old jesuit, with a long white beard,
on a very silent disposition, like a buddhist monk, but in white cassock,
he sits there in front of us, puts his black book on the table,
sits like a Frenchman, and begins to open his mouth, stands
and writes on the blackboard:
WHAT IS DEATH?
that is the lesson for the day, the year was 1982, at the ateneo
de manila university, his name was Fr. O'shaugnessy, Irish, and wise,
finished his doctorate in Loyola University, and he looks at me and
asks me, 'What is death, Ric? '
and i had the answer ready from the metaphysics of Hiedegger
. The word.... has a crucial role in the work of...Hiedegger. Hiedegger defines....an individual's confrontation
with meaningless
and the discovery that the only
justification for one's demeanor
comes from within....that responsibility will
therefore be acknowledged.
that i will surely die
but between life and death
i must be responsible enough
for confront the inevitable
later
that for the meantime
i must live
and confront the demands of life....
and then my teacher
faced the wall, not listening well about
what i had been saying
on the verbosity of it all
and he wrote on the blackboard
below what is death,
what will you do if you will die today?
write an essay, he made the instruction.
i did not submit anything
and for that he gave me an 'A'.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
None Of Us Had to Travel That Far At All
A young Jesuit priest...
Assigned as an astronomer,
At the Vatican.
Has now declared the possibility
Of extraterrestial life
And he...
As he recommends that we,
Should accept them as our brothers!
That declaration is remarkable.
Considering...
We have people living on this planet,
Who are not so hospitably embraced.
And the Vatican's chief astronomer...
Now says it is okay to believe,
Other life forms in the Universe exists!
And 'this' does not contradict one's faith in God!
Even though none of us had to travel that far at all...
To witness contradictions right here on Earth,
Of God's teachings...
We still can not apply,
Beyond enforced hypocrisies.
'Isn't that a 'Roman' Catholic church? '
Please...
Do not get me started!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Leaving
Words and music emily saliers
Jet fuel and traffic lines
Pulling up to the delta signs
Distant shape of my hometown
Black stain where the wheels touch down
I pick up the morning news
I pass the man whos never shined my shoes
Through security and to the train
That will take me to the airplane
Count the miles on the highway
(count the miles on the highway)
The sum of all my days
(the sum of all my days)
Theres a postcard theres a call
(theres a call)
And theres a picture for your bedroom wall
(bedroom wall)
But do you ever wonder through and through
Whos that person standing next to you
(whos that person standing next to you)
And after all the nights apart
Is there a home for a travelling heart
But if I werent leaving you
(if I werent leaving, if I werent leaving you)
I dont know what I would do
(I would do)
But the more I go the less I know
Will the fire still burn on my return
Keep the path lit on the only road I know
Honey all I know to do is go
A cup of coffee and my bags are packed
(coffee and my bags are packed)
The same vow not to look back
(same vow not to look back)
(if I werent leaving)
Familiar emptiness inside
(familiar emptiness inside)
As the distances grow wide
(if I werent leaving)
And though I vow to memorize
(I vow to memorize)
The last look in your loving eyes
(the last look in your loving eyes)
Its here dusk and there dawn
Oh its like a curtain getting slowly drawn
But if I werent leaving you
(if I werent leaving, if I werent leaving you)
I dont know what I would do
(I would do)
But the more I go the less I know
Will the fire still burn on my return
Keep the path lit on the only road I know
Honey all I know to do is go
But if I werent leaving you
(if I werent leaving, if I werent leaving you)
I dont know what I would do
(I would do)
(leaving you)
But the more I go it seems the less I know
(but the more I go the less I know)
Will the fire still burn on my return
(will the fire still burn on my return)
Keep the path lit on the only road I know
(keep the path lit on the only road I know)
Honey all I know to do is go
song performed by by Indigo Girls
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Unico Hijo
what you love is the gift
the giver has gone away taking away what
you want to keep inside you
leaving you empty and despised
but you must let it be
letting go, because what you care most
now, is the gift of love
this unico hijo, this, one, who is with you
in flesh and blood
he too shall take what you have
what you keep inside you
you open like hands and he will grasp
what love is there you have reserved
for tomorrow
he too shall take your time, your essence,
your future even, and willingly you shall give them all
all the love left
all the fortunes that you may still take
you shall give them all
this unico hijo, one, who is with you
he has his father's eyes, and even smell
but you love him
he is the reason why your life moves on
why you must keep in touch
even go on top
and still be defeated, well, he is the one,
this unico hijo, he is the one, the only one left
your reason
and it does not matter now, if the giver is gone
and what is left is his eyes
staring at you, this gift, grabbing you again
this time, you are more than willing
you have learned to die and be dignified
standing tall
in love's greater name
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Tomorrow
If you would noly treat me right
I'd stay here by your side
But I am down to my last cry
So I'm leaving you goodbye
You turned away from opportunities
To sit and talk things through
But now when I say I'm leaving you
You have so much to prove
So long to all my pain
Good night to my heartache
Goodbye sorrow
I won't cry no more
I'm leaving tomorrow
Stop writing me sweet letters and
Calling me on the phone
We argued constantely when I saw you
Always left me in the cold
I made the choice to finally go
Cause I can't stand this pain
It's time for my last tear to fall
And me to smile again
Sorrows and heartache goodbye
I'm leaving you
Don't wanna meet again
Has got to be the end
The end
The sun will finally shine on me
And clouds will drift away
There's something that's in store in me
That's my brighter day
Now I just can't wait
Tomorrow's too late
I'm leaving you today
song performed by by Brandy from Never Say Never
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Even In The Quietest Moments
Even in the quietest moments
I wish I knew what I had to do
And even though the sun is shining
Well I feel the rain --- here it comes again, dear
And even when you showed me
My heart was out of tune
For theres a shadow of doubt thats not letting me find you too soon
The music that you gave me
The language of my soul
Oh lord, I want to be with you.
Wont you let me come in from the cold?
Dont you let the sun fade away
Dont you let the sun fade away
Dont you let the sun be leaving
Wont you come to me soon
And even though the stars are listening
And the oceans deep, I just go to sleep
And then I create a silent movie
You become the star, is that what you are, dear?
Your whisper tells a secret
Your laughter brings me joy
And a wonder of feeling Im natures own little boy
But still the tears keep falling
Theyre raining from the sky
Well theres a lot of me got to go under before I get high
Dont you let the sun disappear
Dont you let the sun disappear
Dont you let the sun be leaving
No, you cant be leaving my life
Say that you wont be leaving my life
Say that you wont be leaving my life
Say wont you please, stay wont you please
Say wont you please, stay wont you please
Lord, wont you come and get into my life
Lord, wont you come and get into my life
Say wont you please, stay wont you please
Say wont you please, stay wont you please
Lord, dont go
And even when the song is over
Where have I been --- was it just a dream?
And though your door is always open
Where do I begin --- may I please come in, dear?
song performed by by Supertramp
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Matters Of Observation
it is me lying on a bench
reading a book halfway through
the pages
for a break i close the book
earmark a page
and look at the jack fruit treetop
just beside the house
i am on the second floor
and no one is in the house
my wife is visiting a friend
who just arrived from the U.S.
there is no other creature except
a white butterfly hovering
on a sampaguita flower
in the small garden
the tree has more leaves
but it is not bearing any fruit
at all
i am reminded of those years
joys forgotten and now i am reading
a book about some shadows
of doubts
there is this systems that works
of patronage
refunds
i am situated in a plateau
and my Jesuit professor who dropped by
last night with a
'how are you? ' through the YM
must have understood that an
introvert like me has no
place outside
the books
i understand and frankly
i do not have to tell him how i feel about it
inside the pages
the stories are too many
my hero is dead.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Art of Ending
Whether beautiful, whether painful
Whether happily ever after, whether full of irony
By force, or by the time
All should end someday
Leaving a hole, leaving a hope
Leaving a cliffhanger, leaving a continuity
Leaving a tragedy, leaving a legend
All could end like this
The journey, the life
The story, the love
The show, the dream
All will come to the end
Whether has been guessed, whether a joke of destiny
A desirable one, an unwanted found
From strongest living, to the smallest creature
All have their own end
Whether sudden, whether prolong
Whether completed, whether unfinished
Whether a relief, whether a torture
All must end here
poem by Maria Sudibyo
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Shes Leaving
Shes leaving, shes leaving
Everybody knows
Shes leaving, shes leaving
And I feel like such a fool
She left me standing here just two feet tall
I just dont know how she could do it
In front of our friends and all
She had better things to do and bigger plans
I thought we could make it with just us two
But I guess we cant
cause she cant
And Im only one man
But I love her
Its winter
Suddenly its winter
And I feel so cold inside
Its different
It couldve been so different
If only she didnt feel that need to lie
Whats the matter girl
Didnt you think I was that strong
That you couldnt tell me
What was going on
song performed by by Bruce Springsteen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Dose of Choco
Can not hold but indulge,
heaven-taste choco fudge.
Oh so sweet and yummy,
chocolate ice cream so creamy.
On each day I love to devour,
loaves of choco bread each hour.
After each meal I want a dessert,
thought of a chocolate cake I assert;
even as diabetic, I can't wait!
poem by Marvin Brato Sr
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Hold Me Tight
Music :rudolf schenker
Lyrics:klaus meine, herman rarebell
Shes the one, thats what I thought
When our love had just begun
But times have changed
And is better go
Because its gonna be too late
And all my love will turn to hate
Youve always known
That music is my life
And I live just for rockn roll
No one can make me change my mind
cause I just want to live my life
Alright dont want me to stay
Alright have it your way
Alright Im leaving tonight
Alright woman, Ill get out of your sight
Youre still the one
But youve shown me
How independent youve become
Dont tell me you need, you need me
To be your ever faithful strong lovin man
Dont tell me Im wrong
I gotta go my way
And youll see, where I belong
You live your life and I live mine
I bet, you will turn out fine
Alright dont want me to stay
Alright have it your way
Alright Im leaving tonight
Alright woman, Ill get out of your sight
Alright dont want me to stay
Alright have it your way
Alright Im leaving tonight
Alright woman, Ill get out of your sight
Alright dont want me to stay
Alright have it your way
Alright Im leaving tonight
Alright woman, Ill get out of your sight
song performed by by Scorpions
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Leaving Home Aint Easy
I take a step outside
And I breathe the air
And I slam the door
And Im on my way
I wont lay no blame
I wont call you names
cause Ive made my break
And I wont look back
Ive turned my back
On those endless games
Im all through with ties
Im all tired of tears
Im a happy man
Dont it look that way?
Shaking dust from my shoes
Theres a road ahead
And theres no way back home
Ohh but I have
Leaving home aint easy
Oh I never thought it would be easy
Leaving on your own
Oh is the main thing calling me back?
Leaving home aint easy
On the one your leaving home
Stay my love my love please stay
Stray my love whats wrong my love?
Whats right my love?
Ohh leaving home aint easy
I thought how could I think of leaving
Leaving on your own
Still trying to persuade me that
Leaving home aint necessary
Leave the only way
Leaving home aint easy
But may be the only way
song performed by by Queen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Leavings Not Leaving
Title from anywhere but here
Starring susan sarandon
Sometimes a time comes along
When its time to, time to move on
Youll still be there in everything that I do
And wherever I go
Ill remember you
Leavings not leaving
cause Im not, leaving you behind
Youll always be with me, always be with me
Part of my heart for all time
Where Im going , youre going
Even if its just in my mind
Leavings not leaving
Im not leaving you behind
Moments shared there with you
Theyre the best times that I ever knew
Theyll still be there when godbyes are all though
Ill remember those days
Ill remember you
Leavings not leaving
cause Im not, leaving you behind
Youll always be with me, always be with me
Part of my heart for all time
Where Im going , youre going
Even if its just in my mind
Leavings not leaving
Im not leaving you behind
Ill hold on the memories
cause in my heart youll be here with me
Theres no reason to cry
Goddbye isnt really goodbye
Leavings not leaving
cause Im not, leaving you behind
Youll always be with me, always be with me
Part of my heart for all time
Where Im going , youre going
Even if its just in my mind
Leavings not leaving
Im not leaving you behind
Leavings not leaving
Not leaving you behind
Im not leaving you
Im not leaving you behind
Leavings not leaving
Im not leaving you
Im not leaving you behind
song performed by by LeAnn Rimes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!